Shriveled leaves spreading through yard - Ask Extension
About three years ago some of my virginia creeper began to shrivel and curl. The following year more virginia creeper was affected in an additional pa...
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Shriveled leaves spreading through yard #189862
Asked June 09, 2014, 10:04 PM EDT
About three years ago some of my virginia creeper began to shrivel and curl. The following year more virginia creeper was affected in an additional part of the yard. This year, in addition to the creeper, red birds in a tree, lilac bushes and several echinacea plants have become affected. It doesn't seem to affect the growth of the creeper but I have yet to see how the red birds and echinacea do. I took some samples to a nursery who recommended I contact you. They didn't see any active insects on the plants. The flowers are watered regularly, the creeper is not. I'd be happy to bring you some samples if that will help. Thank you for your time.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
You didn't mention if these plants are in close proximity to each other. Because they are in many different plant families and the damage is somewhat the same, we need to either think about cultural/environmental conditions (cold weather, late frost, heat) or perhaps chemical damage. Has anything been sprayed in the area of the plants? Anything applied to the mulch or rock areas?
You didn't mention if these plants are in close proximity to each other. Because they are in many different plant families and the damage is somewhat the same, we need to either think about cultural/environmental conditions (cold weather, late frost, heat) or perhaps chemical damage. Has anything been sprayed in the area of the plants? Anything applied to the mulch or rock areas?
Ortho ground clear was sprayed near the virginia creeper the first time this happened 3 years ago. As far as I know nothing was sprayed last year or this year. The red birds and echinacea are roughly 30 feet from the creeper on the other side of a fence. The same areas of the creeper are affected each year. All of the plants get full sun.
There is a very good chance that the Ortho Ground Clear (which contains imazipic) is still in the soil, causing this damage. Especially since you mentioned the Virginia creeper is not watered regularly.
I will say that when I first looked at the pictures, I immediately thought it could be aphids. We're having a great aphid year. You said you didn't see any insects, so I didn't propose this as a possibility.
My other thought is that it's environmental from our strange spring...cool, wet weather and a very late freeze. I would keep watering them and seeing how they do. At this point, I couldn't recommend any treatments since I'm not entirely sure of the cause.
I will say that when I first looked at the pictures, I immediately thought it could be aphids. We're having a great aphid year. You said you didn't see any insects, so I didn't propose this as a possibility.
My other thought is that it's environmental from our strange spring...cool, wet weather and a very late freeze. I would keep watering them and seeing how they do. At this point, I couldn't recommend any treatments since I'm not entirely sure of the cause.
